Mesoscopic phase separation in La2CuO4.02 - a 139La NQR study

Abstract

In crystals of La2CuO4.02 oxygen diffusion can be limited to such small length scales, that the resulting phase separation is invisible for neutrons. Decomposition of the 139La NQR spectra shows the existence of three different regions, of which one orders antiferromagnetically below 17K concomitantly with the onset of a weak superconductivity in the crystal. These regions are compared to the macroscopic phases seen previously in the title compound and the cluster-glass and striped phases reported for the underdoped Sr-doped cuprates.